Uptake and tissue accretion of orally administered free carboxylic acid as compared to ethyl ester form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the rat.

The present results, in fasted low-fat diet fed rats, are consistent with higher oral bioavailability of OM3CA versus OM3EE forms of DHA. Once DHA has entered the circulation, the tissue distribution is independent of the dosed form and uptake in the skeletal muscle, fat and brain is driven by the polar pools of DHA in plasma, while DHA accretion in liver is supplied by both polar and neutral plasma lipids.